Explaining the Abstract: What Does 'Success' Even Mean?
Abstract words — success, freedom, fairness — are where C1 speakers shine or sink. The skill: define loosely, give a concrete example, contrast with what it is NOT. Priya and Tom take 'success' apart. · C1 · Discussion
How to practice: listen to the whole discussion first. Notice how the speakers agree, disagree, hedge and interrupt politely. Then take one role and speak it out loud; finally, record your OWN opinion on the same topic for one full minute.
Tom Okay, big question. What is 'success,' actually?
Priya Well, it's one of those words everyone uses and nobody defines. If I had to pin it down, I'd say success is reaching a goal YOU chose — not one that was handed to you.
Tom So a rich person could be unsuccessful?
Priya Absolutely. Imagine someone earning a fortune in a job they hate, doing work they never chose. By the usual measures — money, title — they're a success story. By their own measure? Not really.
Tom Hmm. So success is kind of… relative to your own goals.
Priya Relative, and also unstable. What counted as success at twenty — excitement, status — might embarrass you at forty. The definition moves as you do.
Tom That's slightly terrifying. But also freeing, I guess.
Priya That's abstract ideas for you. The trick is never to leave them floating — always land them on an example. A definition without an example is just fog.
Tom Fog. Noted. So — by your definition, are YOU successful?
Priya By my definition? Mostly. Ask me again in ten years.
The full dialogue with real voices. Listen first, then take your role.
Record yourself, play it back, and compare with the model. Recordings stay in your browser — nothing is uploaded.
Your task
Choose one abstract word — freedom, happiness, fairness, or courage. Speak for 90 seconds: define it in one sentence ('I'd define X as…'), give one concrete example of it, one example of what it is NOT, and finish with one sentence about why the definition is hard.
Coach tips
- Use the ladder: definition → example → contrast → difficulty. Every abstract talk needs all four.
- Hedge your definitions: 'If I had to pin it down…', 'the way I see it…'.
- Concrete beats clever: one vivid example explains more than three synonyms.
Self-Assessment — Your Honest Checklist
There is no automated speaking score here — and we will not fake one. Play your recording, judge these five areas honestly, and tick what you truly did. Next session, pick ONE unticked box to fix.
Fluency
Grammar
Vocabulary
Pronunciation
Organization
Speaking connects to everything
🗣️ Pronunciation Lab — train the sounds in this lesson🎧 Listening Lab — hear these patterns in real dialogues🌱 Vocabulary Builder — grow the words you reached for📘 Grammar Course — fix the pattern you noticed🩺 Say It Right — Real-Life English, mistake by mistakeKeep going
It's Complicated: Giving Nuanced Opinions
Go back to the previous stop in this section.
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